David Holland KC

Call: 1986

Silk: 2011

David's practice encompasses all aspects of property litigation, costs and professional negligence.

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David Holland KC

Practice summary

Property

Cross-practice

Practice Summary

The core of David's practice is all forms of property litigation. He also practises in the areas of professional negligence and costs.

David is one of the best known practitioners in his field. He has immense experience of litigation and advocacy in front of all types of court and tribunal all the way up to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. He acts for all types of clients in all types of disputes within his specialist areas. His clients range from individual householders to the largest property developers and landowners. He has represented local authorities, firms of solicitors and representative bodies. David can accept instructions under the Bar Council’s Public Access scheme.

David has been ranked in the legal guidebooks as a leading practitioner in his fields for many years and is currently ranked in the highest band/tier in both Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 for property litigation. He was previously named the Real Estate Silk of the Year at the Chambers and Partners Bar Awards. In the Chambers and Partners Guide 2024 for Real Estate Litigation, David is described as “A superb advocate and lovely to deal with." and as “the barrister that you want by your side for highly complex matters. He is an excellent advocate and brilliant when dealing with cross-examination”. In the Costs Litigation section of the Chambers and Partners Guide he is described as “a master in the courtroom - he's an incredible advocate” and as having “a great ability to cut through masses of detail and find a way to the heart of the case. He is fantastic both in his paperwork and on his feet in court."

David sits as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Chancery Division. He is also a Recorder and sits as a part-time Judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). He also acts as an arbitrator and expert.

David is a member of both the MCC and Surrey CCC. He is also an Arsenal season ticket holder.

Property

As his list of cases demonstrates, David has immense experience of litigating at all levels of court. Notable highlights include:

  • Acting for the successful Respondent in the Supreme Court case of Candey v Crumpler [2022] UKSC 35.
  • Representing the Appellant in the recent Supreme Court case of TW Logistics v Essex CC.
  • Acting for the Law Society as Intervening Party in the appeal in Dreamvar v Mishcon de Reya.
  • Acting for the Law Society in many of the more significant costs cases in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal over the last 10 years including, most recently, Budana v Cam Legal, Haven v Gavin Edmondson, Budana v Leeds Hospital and Denton v White.
  • Acting in a significant case involving mooring rights in the Thames.
  • Acting for a former landlord in a dilapidations claim against a well-known multi-national company which settled just before trial with the payment of over £5 million in damages.
  • Acting for the landlord in the largest and most significant 1954 Act renewal case for many years.
  • Acting for TV personality Noel Edmonds in a claim against a former business partner.
  • Successfully arguing in the High Court that an AGA given by an original tenant’s guarantor was void.
  • Acting on behalf of a landowner in successfully claiming a prescriptive right to park.

Cross-practice

Landmark's barristers often work at the intersection of our core practice areas; bringing a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience to bear on a particular dispute or issue facing a client.

Our focus is always on achieving the best possible outcome for our client. By viewing the client's objectives in a holistic way - and not purely through the lens of one rigidly-defined legal area - we deliver the best possible advice and representation in complex matters that engage multiple specialist areas of law. 

Whether it's providing support as an individual cross-practice barrister or a cross-disciplinary team of Landmark counsel, we are able to draw on an outstanding array of complementary skillsets and knowledge bases. This often achieves a better result than instructing multiple barristers from different specialist sets. This also improves the quality of client care through increased levels of communication, quicker response times, and a coordinated approach to clerking and fees, made possible by our team-based cross-practice approach.

Please contact our practice management team for more information.

Costs Litigation

Telecommunications

Highways and Rights of Access

Specialisms

Boundary and Ownership Disputes

Commercial Landlord and Tenant

Conveyancing Disputes

Easements and Profits a Prendre

Insolvency

Land Registration and Adverse Possession

Mortgages, Charges, Charging Orders and Securitisation

Private nuisance

Professional Negligence Claim Related to Property

Property Development including Overage disputes

Protestor Injunctions

Residential Tenancies

Restrictive Covenants

Rights of Light

Riparian Rights, Watercourses and Harbours

Squatters and other Trespass

Telecommunications

Trusts of Land and other Equitable Claims

Village Greens, Commons and Manorial Rights

Specialisms

Costs Litigation

Telecommunications

Highways and Rights of Access

"
A superb advocate and lovely to deal with."

Chambers and Partners

Holland David Uk leading silk 2024

Personal Highlights

Qualifications and achievements

Memberships

  • Chancery Bar Association
  • Professional Negligence Bar Association
  • Property Bar Association

Recommendations

  • “A superb advocate and lovely to deal with.", “the barrister that you want by your side for highly complex matters. He is an excellent advocate and brilliant when dealing with cross-examination.”

    Real Estate Litigation, Chambers and Partners, 2024

  • “a master in the courtroom - he's an incredible advocate” and as having “a great ability to cut through masses of detail and find a way to the heart of the case. He is fantastic both in his paperwork and on his feet in court."

    Costs Litigation, Chambers and Partners, 2024

  • "David is a great team player: he rolls up his sleeves with the rest of the team and always performs."

    Property Litigation, Legal 500, 2024

  • "David gives clear written advice and is very approachable." "David Holland is a very good cross-examiner."

    Real Estate Litigation, Chambers and Partners, 2023

  • "Fantastic silk to work with, David’s energy level and work ethic is incredible."

    Property Litigation, Legal 500, 2023

  • "A very knowledgeable and experienced property barrister whose immediate grasp of a case and attention to detail is very impressive."

    Real Estate Litigation, Chambers and Partners, 2022

  • "He's very good and he gets to the point."

    Costs Litigation, Chambers and Partners, 2022

  • "David provides clear and concise advice and is very quick to reach the core of the argument. However, David’s greatest ability is in court and particularly on cross-examination of witnesses and experts where he can be ferocious."

    Property Litigation, Legal 500, 2022

  • "David always brings high energy levels to the table as well as being approachable and providing clear advice." "He is someone who instils huge confidence in clients. He has that ability to speak to clients on their level but at the same time be able to get straight to the point with his legal advice in a no-nonsense way." "In terms of gravitas he's the best I've come across."

    Real Estate Litigation, Chambers and Partners, 2021

  • "A man of razor-sharp intelligence who identifies the key points in a case quickly." "He knows the background to all of the reforms in this area intimately and is able to direct the client in an assured way."

    Costs Litigation, Chambers and Partners, 2021

  • "Clients particularly enjoy the clarity with which he advises in conference; he is tenacious when on his feet." "David always brings high energy levels to the table as well as being approachable and providing clear advice."

    Chambers and Partners, 2021

  • "A confident and assertive advocate who is very commercial and good with clients." "He adds a touch of brilliance to everything he does.” “He has an excellent eye for detail."

    Real Estate Litigation, Chambers and Partners, 2020

  • "He is the go-to person for the Law Society and regularly appears in appellate cases."

    Costs Litigation, Chambers and Partners, 2020

Practice Managers

Contact our friendly and helpful Practice Managers for more information about our barristers and services or to make an enquiry.

Mark Ball

Practice Director

Harry Feldman

Practice Manager

Connor McGilly

Practice Manager

Ruby Sims

Assistant Practice Manager
Mark Ball new

Mark Ball

Practice Director

020 7421 1308

Harry Feldman

Harry Feldman

Practice Manager

020 7421 2485

Connor Mc Gilly new

Connor McGilly

Practice Manager

020 7421 1304

Ruby Sims new

Ruby Sims

Assistant Practice Manager

020 7421 1337

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